- Monsoon season in Utah brings rain aiding wildfire containment, but risks flash floods.
- Firefighters report stalled fire growth within the state's two biggest fires this year.
- Communities brace for flooding, filling sandbags to prepare for threat.
SALT LAKE CITY — Firefighters battling Utah's largest wildfire this year got a welcome assist from above on Monday.
Monsoonal thunderstorms developed over San Juan County, dumping 0.68 inches of rain in the Monticello area. Some of that moisture made its way over to the Babylon Fire burning approximately 25 miles southwest of the city, which helped in "moderating fire behavior," Great Basin Coordination Center firefighters said in an update on Tuesday.
The fire remains 50% contained, but fire growth stalled as a result. It has burned 106,610 acres since it started on June 26, only gaining a few hundred acres over the past few days after hot, dry and windy conditions assisted in it rapidly jumping in size.
Firefighters battling the Cottonwood Fire east of Beaver reported similar conditions on Monday, with 0.70 inches falling near Puffer Lake. They wrote that there was "no measurable growth" in the blaze.
This week's forecast figures to offer more of the same across the state, as more atmospheric moisture from the Gulf pushes its way into the drought-plagued West. That's both good and bad news for crews on the ground.
"While any wetting rains are expected to moderate fire behavior overall, storms may produce lightning and strong/erratic outflow winds in addition to brief periods of moderate to heavy rain, which may produce flash floods and debris flows in the fire area," Great Basin firefighters added.
The same high-pressure system that helped several Utah cities break daily and all-time high temperature records over the weekend drifts over Colorado and Wyoming, allowing for Gulf moisture to flow in from the south, said KSL meteorologist Matt Johnson.
More scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected across Utah by Tuesday afternoon and evening. Most of these will develop in mountain areas from southern to northern Utah but could drift out into the valleys as the day continues, he said.
Monsoon moisture will continue to increase across Utah and southwest Wyoming through midweek, remaining in place through at least early next week. This will bring a daily threat of showers and thunderstorms capable of producing heavy rain that could lead to flash flooding. #utwxpic.twitter.com/1ZSm5Rn6Md
— NWS Salt Lake City (@NWSSaltLakeCity) July 14, 2026
KSL Weather and National Weather Service models each suggest this pattern will continue for the rest of the week and into at least early next week.
It's unclear how much rain the storms will produce because of their scattered and unpredictable nature. Some communities may end up with stronger totals than others.
Full seven-day forecasts for areas across Utah can be found online at the KSL Weather Center.
Communities brace for flooding
The forecast is good news in cooling the state down and bringing in moisture, considering nearly 95% of the state remains in severe or worse drought, and more acres have burned from wildfires this year than any other year since 2018.
However, additional lightning from the storms isn't ideal. The U.S. Forest Service reported three new starts at Fishlake National Forest Tuesday morning that have combined to burn approximately 10 acres so far.
Some communities, especially ones near burn scars, are now preparing for flooding threats, too. Quick downpours can cause flash flooding in slot canyons, recent wildfire burn scars and other flood-prone terrains.
The Beaver County Sheriff's Office announced Monday that it was pausing property owner and public access within the Cottonwood Fire zone because "the potential for flooding and debris flows is too high to ensure the safety of those traveling (state Route 153) or other roadways." It remains in place until further notice.
That came after Beaver County leaders met Monday night to prepare residents for flooding, asking people to stay alert as the burn scar will remain vulnerable during future storms. Evacuation notices could come with very little warning if flooding develops, officials cautioned.
"This will take houses out," said Les Whitney, the county's emergency management director.
Sandbags were made available last week. Eureka, Juab County, near where the Iron and Cherry fires burned this summer, held an event last week where dozens of volunteers filled sandbags.
"What we're trying to do is get ahead of it a little bit and prepare," said Juab County Sheriff's Lt. Drake Underwood.
Contributing: Tyrese Boone
